Why Delta is the worst airline
 

Why Delta is the worst airline.

My wife and I fly frequently and over the last couple of years have found ourselves on Delta a couple of times. Each of the prior trips found delays, once missing a connecting flight due directly to the incompetence of Delta personnel. I wrote this off in the past, but today is the final straw.

We flew from San Antonio to Atlanta to catch a connecting flight to Milan for a long awaited vacation. As we were boarding the 767 in Atlanta, I noticed the port engine nacelle was open. Once we were buckled in the captain announced that maintenance was waiting on a part and it would take up to an hour to depart. An hour goes by and they have the part, but they can't get it installed. Another hour goes by. They're still trying to fix it. More excuses, more delays. Since when have jet engine mechanics not known how to replace a part or how long it would take? How about another airplane? How about some solution other than the same tired excuses?

Never again, Delta, this was strike three!

I took a trip to Montana on Delta with my wife one time. Our luggage went to New Orleans and they lied to us about it for several days.

I avoid Delta at all costs. They nickel-and-dime like no other airline, their customer service rivals Comcast and the IRS, and they seem to make no effort to avoid delays (and they charge you through the nose should you take the initiative).

Doesn't
Ever
Leave
The
Airport.

Oh and I flew 2x on delta, BOTH TIMES LUGGAGE LOST. I did a cruise wearing the same ****ing clothes for 3 days as a result.

randy you got that right!

never have I flown delta w/o getting delayed significantly or simply missing a connection. they will when at fault put you up in a hotel when they are at fault in Atlanta...believe me you are better off and safer sleeping in the airport.

delta...ugh!!!

Yeah, we're still sitting at the gate!

If I wasn't so pissed, that would have been hilarious, Randy.

Doesn't
Ever
Leave
The
Airport

Rich!

The only US airlines I like are Alaska, Southwest and recently Virgin. Maybe there are some others that are still good. The majors are bad, I dong think one is less bad than the other.

I fly several times a month between San Jose and Los Angles as well as trips to AZ, NV, MI, IL, OH... I fly Southwest exclusively. I will not take another airline, period.

Plus since I fly with them so much I have nearly unlimited free booze :)

Don't
Expect
Luggage
To
Arrive

Sorry about your experience with Delta. I love Delta! What eventually happened?

Maintenance issues can happen with any airline. I've had MUCH better luck with Delta than any other airline, but YMMV!

never understood the allure. average at best and by no means the value airline they had once been known to be.

Joe Saward (F1 journo) is on a rant about United as well... I'm pretty much Southwest only as well... until I can afford NetJet ;-)

Why would anyone fly Southwest? There's no F or J class and you can't even pick your seat?

my thoughts as well.

I am a multi-million miller with several airlines, Platinum for life with American. I will not fly Delta if I can avoid it.

Best (?) story with Delta, when I was running Latam I was in Rio and I had to go to an urgent meeting in South Carolina next day, easy ... Delta has/had a direct-overnight flight from Rio to Atlanta, got my full-fare first class ticket (not cheap) and on the way I go. Got to my seat, almost empty First Class and neither the TV nor the light works .. told the steward and he/she can care less, not a single sorry, please change to another seat .. nope, just a curse .. I will notify maintenance in Atlanta ... of course I changed to another seat and wrote her/him in a complain letter.

Now that I don't have to travel for business anymore is either Southwest or American for me.

I fly for another airline but rode Delta from JFK to FRA (Frankfurt) two years ago in Business Class. I identified myself to the lead purser, an older woman who was the senior stew basically, as airline crew and she seemed miffed that I would expect anything less than her best service just because I was an airline employee. Granted, I was ticketed (miles) and in Business Class but she treated me very well.

People like Southwest because they pioneered cheap, cattle-car air travel. If you're going to be pushed and shoved on and off planes then why pay Delta prices? That's why people love Southwest. Oh, and younger cuter stews. People, especially men, tend to forget they are cattle when some young honey smiles at them.

I used to fly Continental whenever I could. Since the merger with United I have had nothing but problems. So many of the flights I take are now handled by United Express with their dinky weenier jets (Embraer) with the most uncomfortable seats ever invented. At least on Southwest I can get a comfortable seat.

Delta is a joy compared with US Air

I have not flown Delta in yrs. US Air sucks.
However, Southwest is okay.

Because I can't afford anything but the cheap seats, and they all go the same damn place so why bother picking? And if I'm checking bags I know southwest will be cheaper on almost every flight.

Took that flight a couple weeks ago!

I guess the FA was not impressed that you weren't a Delta Plat or Diamond :)

I'm a few days away from Delta Diamond, but considering doing a status match to another program with the incoming Delta mileage accrual changes. Sounds like you're the man for advice. Any suggestions?

I tend to fly through Detroit, so my connections are through Delta's hub. Overall, very positive experiences.

I'm spoiled since I've flown real airlines. Etihad, Singapore Air, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, even Gulf Air is better than any US based airline. I've done Virgin America and with the exception of the disco feel they did a good job. They just don't fly from PHX. Stuck with American, Delta, SW and United. Not much of a choice

They all suck. And flying sucks. Being locked up with 300 of your closest friends for hours at a time. They have nickel and dimed it to death too. The passengers are partly at fault. Always looking for the best deal. You don't even get peanuts or pretzels any more on United. Even flying business sucks. You are in the same stuffy pressurized tube. I avoid plane rides for leisure trips like the plague. I can go on a very nice road trip for half the money in the privacy of my own vehicle, pull over for real food, a bed, even cook something up myself on the grille or camping stove in a nice rest area!

G

Cathay Pacific? Really? Tried to save a bit of $ flying them to India, twice. Amatuer hour if you ask me.

Long hauls, KLM seems the least worst. Love British, but their frequent labor BS makes me avoid them. Air France, no thanks.

Lufthansa is my favorite and they happened to have the best deal for my next trip to the Fatherland.

I fly to Europe out of Cincinnati, so it's pretty much always Delta. Delta "partners" with Air France, so about half the time I'm booked with Delta, but flying an Air France plane. The difference is astounding. The Air France crew acts like they're actually happy you're there. They're friendly and give much more attention. Delta stews are surly when they are around, which isn't often.

They treat the American consumer like cattle...

BUT...they treat their customers on international flights better than the old Pan Am...go figure.

I think much has to do with status. I live in Atlanta and fly Delta a lot. Considering comparative experiences on United, American etc, I'm very happy with Delta. Can't imagine the logistics and a-holes they have to deal with.

If you're expecting to be treated like a king you'll be disappointed on any airline.

As far as I am concerned, air travelers surrender their dignity at the doors of the airport nowadays, along with any sense of control over their fates. We're cattle on ALL airlines.

Southwest isn't "cheap" per se, on my last X-country trips they were $100 more than United and Delta, yet I chose them anyway because they tend to deliver me more or less on time and with my luggage, which Delta and United never do.

United managed to scatter my wife and I from our 2 and 6 y old kids ( 4 different rows all over the plane despite previous "together" seat assignments) on the last trip I took with them, and then give us really bad attitude when we expressed that wasn't gonna work with the baby (thankfully the stewardess fixed what the check in people and gate attendants thought was insurmountable).

Southwest allows me to pay a few bucks extra and board as A01 every time, meaning first after the 15 wheelchairs (that's another topic, 90% seem to be faking invalidity and jump from their chairs into the cabin like happy bunnies). So despite no seat assignments, I'm better off with southwest than other cattle carriers... Early boarding is a better shot than changeable seat assignments... Their crew is also friendlier and funny...

I don't know if this applies all across the airline industry, but I'll take a stab at it why this exists.
Since most commercial enterprises contact / outsource everything including (what should be highly skilled) technicians / mechanics. The contractor then contracts his portion out, then again until a firm such as Delta is paying the contractor $50.00 - 60.00 (or more) per tech hour and in the end the 'tech' doing the work is a guy working through a staffing agency; part time making $12.00 hour with no benefits and also little experience. Sad really as the chain of people in between is taking a cut all along the way.

Delta washes their hands and liability as soon as the money changes hands and of course each contractor further down on the chain assures the one above that all requirements are being met or exceeded and with-in budget.:rolleyes:

I read somewhere that some aircraft engine manufacturers actually do the maintenance/repair of units in service. They also charge the aircraft owner based upon hours used on the engine, and the mfr replaces it when needed/etc.

It might be that some incompetent a**hole at GE kept you grounded... just saying.

And yeah, I pretty much only fly SW, but have flied just about all the major American lines and haven't been blown away with good/bad experiences on any. Just moo your way to the seat and wait for your ever decreasing in size feed bag to arrive.

Rick be careful what booking class you're flying on if you collect miles. LHT actually has a class that awards 0 status miles. Zero.

One good thing about any flights out of Europe are the mandated rules that state passengers are compensated for extended delays. A couple of months ago I was on a flight from Munich to Sao Paulo and my flight was delayed because of an engine issue. I wrote Lufthansa a note quoting EU261 and they sent me a cheque for 600 Euros. Yep. Passengers are entitled to this if your flight is delayed as little as 3 hours. Many don't know this.

It's about time North America caught up to Europe so that are carriers are more diligent with adhering to schedules. It's better for everybody.

I pretty much just do Alaska and JetBlue... the occasional minor delay but those are unavoidable.
My whole family swears by Southwest... I don't avoid them but don't go out of my way to fly with them either.
I will go out of my way to fly JetBlue... bigger seat and better snacks for about the same price.
And if you think I am being a snob I have flown Allegiant, when it absolutely positively has to be the cheapest seat you can get! :D